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Microsoft Access Runtime Distribution and Free Downloads

Microsoft offers runtime versions of Microsoft Access so you can create database applications in MS Access and distribute them
to non-Access owners. The runtime version allows your users to use your databases without purchasing their own license of Access/Office.

Special Keys such as Ctrl+Break, Ctrl+G, Shift key when opening the database,
and other keys to modify objects or code are not available

Microsoft Office features such as spell checking are not included. Note that spell checking is
available if the user has that version of Office installed.

Crashes in your VBA code are not handled. Make sure you implement error handling throughout your application.

No Access help file

Make Sure You Have Error Handling for Runtime Distributions

Because users of the runtime version do not have the design surfaces, it's important that any MS Access
application you distribute with the runtime has a robust global error handler in place for all procedures. Otherwise, unexpected
errors will cause your application without recourse. The Debug dialog is not available with a runtime deployment.

In earlier versions of Microsoft Access, you needed to purchase a special developer version of Access to
receive the runtime version and other related resources. Since MS Access 2007, Microsoft has distributed the
runtime versions for free. You can download them from here:

As the developer, you have the full version of Microsoft Access to create your database application.
Rather than have a different machine to test how your application behaves with the runtime version, Microsoft
offers a way to run MS Access in runtime mode. Read our paper for more details:

Launching Microsoft Access with your database is similar to the way you would do so with the regular
version of Access. Simply launch the msaccess.exe followed by the name of your database. Your database
should launch with an Autoexec macro or have a startup form defined. Without it, nothing will appear as the
runtime version does not expose the database container to users.

Our custom software development team has extensive
experience creating Microsoft Access solutions that are deployed to users around the world using the Access
runtime version.

Total Access Startup for Deployment

In conjunction with our Total Access Startup
program, application deployment can be managed and updated centrally.

RemoteApp and Terminal Services to Eliminate User Installations

We also have experience using Terminal
Services and RemoteApp to support users over the Internet to run Access applications without having to
install Access on their local machines. By hosting the Access application in a secure data center, Mac users
and other non-traditional Access users can run your Microsoft Access application from their device.